News
Local

Local playwright explores rural Ontario’s history in Kingsbridge The Musical

Warren Robinson directs a rehearsal for Kingsbridge The Musical at the Kingsbridge Centre. Many local volunteers have lent their talents and time to the production. Kingsbridge The Musical premieres at the Kingsbridge Centre June 15, 2017.

Kingsbridge The Musical, an original theatre production written and directed by Goderich playwright Warren Robinson depicting life in rural Ontario in the 1950s, will premiere at the Kingsbridge Centre on June 15.

The show features local volunteer musicians, actors, and technical talent of all ages from the Kingsbridge community and will run Thursday, June 15, Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17 at 8 pm and on Sunday, June 18 at 2 pm.

Robinson, who has written three other musicals that were set in Goderich at various historical times, says this story looks at Kingsbridge life in the late 1950s. “So much was changing in rural life—electricity and indoor plumbing—the move to the cities by young people, the selling off of lakefront property to support the farm, and how these changes affected the dynamic of the community.”

The idea for the musical came from St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community (SJKC) and was commissioned by the Kingsbridge Centre, with support from the Province, as part of SJKC’s Ontario150 program. The not-for-profit organization wanted to highlight its community in Canada’s 150th year.

Robinson says his time with the community and his love of music and local history made this an ideal project for him. He and his wife owned a cottage in Kingsbridge and attended St. Joseph’s Church (now Kingsbridge Centre) for 20 years. “I knew the community was extremely musical and that inspired me to make it a musical. I also have long admired the strength and cohesiveness of the community. Adversity only toughens them.”

As for his creative process, Robinson wrote the script and songs together. He says often a song idea would suggest a scene or vice versa. “I laid out a plan based around three sets of relationships that continue throughout the play. I also tried to ensure there were scenes covering essential elements of the community.”

Robinson needed to research the rich history of Kingsbridge. For this, SJKC members spent time with senior community members to learn firsthand what various aspects of life looked like in the tight-knit hamlet in the ‘50s. “I felt that the elders would be more forthcoming with people they knew,” says Robinson. “Fortunately SJKC members were able to gather lots of material.”

“The play is what I call ‘faction,’” Robinson says. “The story and characters are based on reality but I have fictionalized them.” He says sometimes it worked to combine several similar stories into one and sometimes it was necessary not to reveal names. “However, anyone familiar with local characters will soon know who is being presented.”

The musical score was a collaborative effort. “I was so lucky to have Mike Reynolds and [wife] Eleanor Robinson as composers. They are both creative and flexible,” says Robinson. “Sometimes the melody would come first and sometimes the lyric would.” The trio tried to strike a balance between rollicking comic songs and tender ballads, he says. “As this is a ‘folk musical,’ the instrumentation is fiddle, banjo, guitar, keyboard, bass, mandolin family instruments and concertina. Coincidentally, the late 1950s was the beginning of the folk music boom so having a folk musical seemed appropriate.”

Robinson says working with the Kingsbridge community has been “a dream.” “I have never had this many fine singers in a single cast. There are 37 people in the cast and the vast majority of them sing very well. [The talent] will blow you out of the hall.” In true musical fashion, there is also dancing.

“Along with the acting and singing talent there is a great crew of builders and people with technical expertise. They are super talented and committed. Their enthusiasm, drive and willingness to trust me has been great.” The best part, says Robinson, was collaborating with the community. “I get to work with people I respect, in an exciting venue, on a project that we all love. Life doesn’t get much better than that.”

But the project came with its challenges, says Robinson. “Every area has characters and you want to include the characters but not in such a way that you offend their relatives. We try to celebrate the characters for they make life richer.”

“This show will appeal to everyone,” assures Robinson. “It is very lively, has lots of humour, and fantastic singing. Whether or not you are familiar with the area or a total stranger you will have a good time, I promise.”

Tickets for Kingsbridge The Musical are available at the door and cost $20 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for youth under 12. Doors will open one hour prior to the event.